Edward a



3' genie ffirr'.

Letters Patent No. 80,720, dated August 4, 1868.

IMPROVED coitroonnron Emma-mantra Finns.

"@3132 .rlgrhnlt nfant in in time Etitgtsfittent in making and ot'tlge same.

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. GALBRAILII, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, and State of Massachu- -setts,have invented anew and useful Improvement in Compound for Extinguishing Fires; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

My invention has reference to a class of devices or means of extinguishing fires by the employment of'a jet, streams, or shower'ol' water impregnated with fire-subduing or extinguishing materials projected upon fire by pressureor force from a suitable vessel or machine.

Experience has shown that most fires are discovered soon after their outbreak, and if a ready means of extinguishing them is at hand, in nearly every case they could be easily extinguished with a small quantity of fire-extinguishing materials, if properly directed and applied.

The object of this invention is to devise a cheap, convenient, and ready. mode of checking andsubduing a fire in its early stages, by neutralizing, removing, or destroying the elements causing the combustion, and at the same time so simple and convenient that any one can apply it, and he always sure of its success. I

Chemically considered, if you neutralize, remove, or destroy either of the elements whieh make the fire, you destroy the fire. I I I I Water does this by saturation, when sulficiently large quantities are early applied, but this is not always at hand, and there are many objections to the use oflarge quantities of water.

My plan is to destroy the fire by impregnating the water with materials'whieh neutralize or destroy one or all of the elemeritsof the fire, and at the same time have a tendency to 'coat over and coverIthe materials on fire, and thus, by operating at its roots, eflect the object, and also by use of materials and substances held in solution, which, when coming in contact with the fire, will become instantly solidified, form incrustations on the burhing mass, and generate and emit gascsu-nfuvorable to combustion. I I

Thismay be efi'ected by impregnating the water to be used, by dissolving therein salt-cakc of commerce, or sal-nixon of commerce, both being the residuum oftho manufacture of m'uria-tic or nitric acid; crystallized'sulphateof ammonia, bieurbonatc'o f sodajchloride of calcium; hittern-water; chloride of uiaghesiumfbleachingpowder; Epsom salts;. hisulphatc of ammonia; silicate of soda; any soluble silicate or their equivalents,'which,'

when brought in contact with the fire, will tend to destroy it by incrustatien'and decomposition, and, by .coming in contact with the fire, creating and generating gases unfavorable to combustion.

To carry out my invention,I use a. cylinder, 01' other properly-constructed vessel, made in any of the known forms, with the necessary appurtcnanc'esand fixtures,'and, after filling it nearly fullof water, I-dissolve therein two or three of the abovc mentioned ingredients, but prefer the salt-cake of commerce, or sal-nixon of commerce, both of which are very cheap, and remarkably eificaciousin extinguishing fire, and some one of the soluble silicates and. bicarbonate of sodafwith or without some of the other materials, but I do not rely upon the expansive force of the fire-destroying ingredients to furnish power to project the water, thus impregnated upon the fire, but use compressed air, or gas, or a small pump for that purpose, or their equivalents, which may he introduced into or used in connection with the vessel containing them various ways.

When the materials used are fully dissolvozl in the water, I,force them upon thefire from the cylinder or' vessel used. I I

I do not claim in th-is'invention an" articular form or constriiction of vessel or mode of forcin the water I thus impregnated, do pot intend to confine myselt'to any particular mode of carrying out this invention; but- What I db clnim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1. A solution of salt-cake of commerce in water for extinguishing fires.

2., A solution of chloride of ma nesium and silicate of soda, in combination with salt-cake of commerce, or I 5 its equivalent, for use in extinguishing fires, substantially, asset forth. 7

3. A solution of any soluble silicate, Epsom salts, and bicarbonate of soda, in combination with salt-cake or sal-nixon, or their equivalents, for the purpose set forth. I

4. A solution of chloride of'ealcium, any soluble silicate, and bicarbonate of soda, in combination with saltcake of commerce, or its equivalent, for use in extinguishing fires.

I I EDWARD A. GALBRAITH. Witnesses: I

SELWIN Z. BURMAN, ISAIAH KNOWLES, J r. 

